Kate

Ben Folds Five

About Kate

"Kate" is a song performed by Ben Folds Five released on their 1997 album Whatever and Ever Amen. Written by Ben Folds, Darren Jessee, and Folds's first wife, Anna Goodman, the song follows a love-struck man who is so obsessed with the girl "Kate" that he longs to be her, as shown by the lyric "I wanna be Kate". It peaked at #39 on the UK Singles Chart.


Year:
1997
3:13
15,773 
#33

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She plays wipeout on the drums
The squirrels and the birds come
Gather around to sing the guitar
Oh I, have you got nothing to say

When all words fail she speaks
Her mix tape's a masterpiece 
Walks through the garden
So the roses can see
Oh I, have you got nothing to say
And you can see the daisies 
In her footsteps
Dandelions, butterflies
I want to be Kate

Everyday she wars the same thing
I think she smokes pot
She's everything I need, she's everything I'm not
Oh I
Have you got nothing to say

She never gets wet 
She smiles and it's a rainbow
And she speaks and she breathes
I want to be Kate

Down by the Rosemary and Cameron
She hands out the
Bhagaved Gita
I see her around every couple days
I want to meet her so that 
I can say, hey Kate

 Struggling with Kate? Become a better singer in 30 days with these videos!


Ben Folds Five

Ben Folds Five is an alternative rock trio formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group comprises Ben Folds (lead vocals, piano, keyboards, melodica, principal songwriting), Robert Sledge (bass, contrabass, synthesizer, backing vocals), and Darren Jessee (drums, percussion, backing vocals, songwriter, and co-writer for some songs). The group achieved mainstream success in the alternative, indie and pop music scenes. The band is best known for the hit single "Brick" from their 1997 album Whatever and Ever Amen, which gained airplay on many mainstream radio stations. During their seven years together, the band released three proper studio records, one retrospective album of B-sides and outtakes, and eight singles. They also contributed to a number o… more »

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Written by: ANNA GOODMAN, BEN FOLDS, DARREN JESSEE

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Origin
"Kate" is a single performed by the American alternative rock band, "Ben Folds Five," from their second studio album, "Whatever and Ever Amen," released in 1997.
Lead Singer
The band's lead vocalist and pianist, Ben Folds, is the primary songwriter behind "Kate".
Song Meaning
The song is said to be written about Folds’ high school friend, Kate, who he had a crush on. It explores the theme of unrequited love.
Music Style
"Kate" exemplifies Ben Folds Five's unique fusion of alternative rock and piano rock. The band stands out for their heavy use of piano, with Folds as the primary instrumentalist.
Album Success
"Whatever and Ever Amen," the album in which "Kate" features, is one of Ben Folds Five's most successful albums. It was certified gold by the RIAA for sales over 500,000 copies.
Song Popularity
Despite not being released as a single in the United States, "Kate" remains one of Ben Folds Five's most popular songs. In the UK, it reached number 39 on the Singles Chart.
Music Video
The music video for "Kate" shows the band performing in a small room filled with Polaroids of a girl assumed to be Kate.
Ben Folds Solo Performance
Even after Ben Folds Five disbanded in 2000, Folds continued to perform "Kate" as part of his solo concerts.
Song Cover
Several artists, including Colin Hanks and the band "The Lucksmiths," have covered "Kate."
Enduring Appeal
More than two decades after its release, "Kate" continues to be a fan favorite at Ben Folds' live shows, demonstrating the song's lasting appeal.

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